Self-opening and closing bump gate



y 12, 1953 v. A LEIN 2,637,921

SELF-OPENING AND CLOSING BUMP GATE.

Filed Oct. 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.

Valdemar A. Lein IINVENTOR.

May 12, 1953 v. A. LEIN SELF-OPENING AND CLOSING BUMP GATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27, 1950 r m m V m QM Y B May 12, 1953 v. A. LElN 2,637,921

SELF-OPENING AND CLOSING BUMP GATE Filed Oct. 27, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet s Valdemar A. Lein INVENTOR.

Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES iATENT OFFICE 10 Claims;

This invention relates to new and useful improveme'nts in gate structures and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a. self opening and closing gate involving a spring means that will be actuated bythe bumper of a vehicle to cause the gate to open and which spring means will also yieldingly urge the gate to its closed position after the gate has been moved to its open position.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a horizontally pivoted frame mounted on a vertically pivoted gate and connected to a locking mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism as the frame is raised and which frame also actuates a means for tensioning a spring whereby the gate will be urged to its open position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a self opening and closing gate structure involving a vertically pivoted closure, a horizontally swingable arm pivoted intermediate its ends to the gate, and a pair of spring members connecting the ends of arm to a supporting post for the closure together with a horizontally pivoted frame that will engage the arm to tension one of the springs sufiiciently to urge the closure to its open position, the springs being in balance after the closure has been opened a predetermined amount whereby the arm and irairie are released from engagement with each other, and upon continued opening of the closure the other of the springs will be tensioned to urge the closure to its closed position.

A still further aim of the present invention is the provision of a novel locking mechanism acting with and connected to the frame to be actuated as the frame is raised to permit opening of the closure and which lockin mechanism will be activated to its locked position during closing of the closure.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of broken section line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken sub stantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 1; I

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional iii 2 view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4 -4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the invention showing the gate in its closed and locked position with the springs in balance;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the A- frame locked and engaged with the cross-bar and the inside spring loaded to urge the gate to its open position;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the gate partially opened and opened sufficiently to permit the A-irame and cross-ba to disengage each other and the springs balanced; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the gate nearly fully open with the outside spring loaded for urging the gate to its closed position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numerals l0 and I2 represent a pair of uprights or posts between which there is mounted a gate or closure M. The post I 0 supports upper and lower collars l6 and I8 on which U-shap-ed straps and 22 are rotatably mounted. The ends of the straps are hired by welding or the like to one vertical end rail 2d of the gate l4 and the ends of the straps are strengthened and joined by reinforcing webs 26 that are welded to the ends of the straps.

Through the medium of the aforementioned hinge construction, the gate 84 is vertically pivotally mounted on the post Ill. The end of the gate [4 remote from the rail 24 is braced to the upper end of the post ill by a guy wire 28 including a turnbuckle 30.

The end rail 32 of the gate remote from the post Iii and paralleling the post l2 slidably and rotatably supports a sleeve 34 to which a concaveconvexed plate 35 is secured by webs or plates 38 that are welded to both the sleeve 34 and thepost seat or plate 36. The lower end of the sleeve 34 is formed with a Vertical slot 40 that will receive a vertical lug 42 fixed on the rail 32 when the post I2 is seated in the plate 3'5 to lock the sleeve, 34 and plate 35 against rotation and to thereby lock the gate in its closed position.

An arm 44 projects laterally from the sleeve 36 and is connected to the upper end of a vertical spring 45. The lower end of the spring 46 is attached to the lower rail 48 of the gate to yieldingl'y urge the sleeve downwardly toward the lug it.

A pair of inside vertical rails 50 and 52 join the upper and lower rails 54 and 48 of the gate, and these rails 58 and 52 support a horizontal,

externally threaded rod or pivot 56. An A-frame 58 is mounted on the pivot 56 for swinging movement about a horizontal axis and includes a pair of downwardly diverging bars 68 and 62 whose upper ends are joined by a plate 64. The bars 69 and G2 are also joined intermediate their ends by upper and lower horizontal bars 66 and B8. The bar 66 supports a horizontal sleeve 58 through which the pivot 56 extends, and nuts 18 are threaded on the pivot 55 to permit horizontal adjustment of the A-frame on the pivot 56.

A pulley 12 is mounted on the rail 54 above the A-frame and another pulley 14 is mounted on the rail 54 above the sleeve 34. A flexible element or cable 16 is trained over the pulleys 12 and I4 and its ends are secured to the arm 44 and the plate 64. The cable is preferably adjustably secured to the plate 64 by cable bolts 18a.

As the frame 58 is swung vertically upward, the cable I6 will bepulled toward the frame and the sleeve 34 will be raised above the lug- 42 to permit rotation of the sleeve 34 and the plate 36 and this will permit opening of the gate [4.

The central portion of an arm or cross-bar 18 is secured to the rail 48, beneath the A- frame 58 by a vertical pivot 88 to permit horizontal swinging movement of the A-frame about a vertical axis. The arm 18 includes an elongated side notch 82 and cam surfaced end portions 84 and 86 sloping toward the notch disposed between the lower ends of the A-frame bars 60 and 62 when the gate is closed as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5.

A pair of horizontally disposed co-axial arms 88 and 99 are fixed to the post 10 below the collar l8. One end of a coil spring 92 is attached to the arm 88 and the other end of the spring 92 is attached to a chain 94 that is secured to one end of the arm 18. One end of another coil spring 96 is attached to the arm 90 and the other end of the spring 96 is attached to a chain 98 that is secured to the other end of the arm 18.

The springs 92, 96 and the chains 94, 98 are so related to normally retain the arm 18 at right angles to the gate as shown best in Figures 2 and of the drawings.

In practical use of the present invention, the lug 42 is received in the slot 40 and the post [2 is positioned in the plate 36 to hold the gate closed. As the frame 58 is swung upwardly, by the bumper of a vehicle or a suitable portion of a vehicle, the lower end of the bar 69 rides against the cam surfaced end portion 84 to rotate the arm 18 and move the end portion 84 toward the post I!) and the end portion 86 away from the post IO until the bar 68 enters the notch 82 as shown in Figure 6. This procedure raises the sleeve 34 and plate 36 from the lug 42 and causes the spring 96 to expand sufiiciently to urge the gate to its open position with the sleeve 34 rotating on the rail 32 so that the slot 40 no longer registers with the lug 42 and the sleeve 34 remains raised.

As the gate is swung to its open position, the springs 92 and 96 will be balanced, as shown in Figure 7, whereupon the A-frame 58 will swing downwardly to its normal vertical position,

its closed position. During closing movement of the gate, the arm 18 will return to its normal position between the lower ends of the bars 69 and 62, also, one vertical portion P of the plate 36 will engage the post I2 to rotate the sleeve 34 so that the lug 42 will enter the slot 48 and again lock the gate closed.

The gate I4 may be opened from the inside or the outside depending on whether the bar GI rides against the cam surfaced end portion 84 or the bar 62 rides against the cam surfaced end portion 86. The vehicle engages the A- frame to cause engagement of the A-frame bar 68 or 62 in the notch 82 whereupon the opening of the gate will be automatic, but during the opening the operation phase described through Figure 7 will occur.

Having described'the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A self opening and closing device comprising first and second vertical posts, a closure member mounted on the first post for swinging movement. about a vertical axis toward and away from the second post, a locking mechanism on the closure member for engaging the second post, a horizontally pivoted bumper-engaging member mounted on the closure, means connecting the bumper engaging member to the locking mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism upon upward swinging movement of the bumper engaging member, means swingably mounted on the closure member and actuated by the bumper engaging member, and spring means connecting said swingably mounted means to said first post and actuated by said swingably mounted means and yieldingly urging the closure member to an open position.

2. A self opening and closing device comprising first and second vertical posts, a vertically pivoted closure member mounted on the first post for swinging movement about a vertical axis toward and away from the second post, a locking mechanism on the closure memher for engaging the second post, a horizontally pivoted bumper-engaging member mounted on the closure for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, means connecting the bumperengaging member to the locking mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism upon upward swinging movement of the bumper-engaging member, and said locking mechanism including a vertically slidable sleeve rotatable on said closure member, a post seat carried by said sleeve for receiving the second post, a lug on said closure member, said sleeve having a vertical slot receiving said lug to hold the sleeve against rotation with the second post in the seat, said sleevebeing raised from the lug upon upward swinging movement of the bumper-engaging member, and means carried by the closure mem,-

her and connected to the first post for retaining the bumper-engaging member raised as the closure member is opened and also urging the closure member to its closed position. v

3. A self opening and closing device comprising first and second vertical posts, a vertically pivoted closure member mounted on the first post for swinging movement about a vertical axis toward and away from the second post, a locking mechanism on the closure member for engaging the second post, a horizontally pivoted bumperengaging member mounted on the closure for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, means connecting the bumper engaging member.

to the locking mechanism for releasing the locking mechanism upon upward swinging movement of the bumper engaging member and said looking mechanism including a vertically slidable sleeve rotatable on said closure member, a post seat carried by said sleeve for receiving the secand post, 3 lug on said closure member said sleeve having a vertical slot receiving said lug to hold the sleeve against rotation with the second post in the said sleeve being raised from the lug upon upward swinging movement of the bumper engaging member, a horizontally swingable arm pivoted intermediate its ends to said closure member, a pair of springs connecting the ends of said arm to said first post, said arm having a notch adapted to receive said bumper engaging member as the latter is raised, and said arm having a cam surface against which said bumper engaging member rides to impart swinging movement to said arm to tension one spring and yieldingly retain the bumper engaging member in the notch with the said one spring tensioned and thereby urging the gate to its open position.

4. A self opening and closing device comprising first and second uprights, a vertically pivoted gate mounted on said first upright for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a vertically slidable and rotatable sleeve carried by the gate, a curved plate secured to the sleeve and embracing the second upri ht, a lug secured to the gate below the sleeve, said sleeve having a vertical slot receiving said lug when said plate is disposed about the second post to loci; the gate to the second post, a horizontally pivoted frame mounted on the gate and swingable about a horizontal axis transversely of the gate, means connecting the frame to the sleeve to raise the sleeve from the lug as the frame is swing upwardly, a horizontally swingable arm pivoted intermediate its ends on said gate beneath the frame, said arm including an elongated notch and cam surfaced end portions, said frame including a pair of inclined bars, arm being received between the lower ends of said. bars and first second elongated horizontally disposed spring members securing the ends of said arm to said first upright, one of said bars riding against one cam surfaced end portion of said arm and into said notch upon upward swinging movement of said frame to tension one of the members and thereby urge the gate to its open position, said spring members being in balance after the has been swung a predetermined amount whereby said arm will release said frame, the other of said spring members being tensioned upon continued swinging movement of said gate to return the gate to its closed position, and. said second upright being disposed in the path of said sleeve for rotating the sleeve and the plate during closing or the gate to register the slot with the lug.

5. A self opening and closing device comprising first and second uprights, vertically pivoted gate mounted on said upright for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a vertically slidable and rotatable sleeve carried by the gate, a curved plate secured. to the sleeve and embracing the second upright, a lug secured to the gate below the sleeve, said sleeve having a vertical slot receiving said lug when said plate is disposed about the second post to lock the gate to the second post, a horizontally pivoted frame mounted on the gate and swingable about a horizontal axis transversely or the gate, means connecting the frame to the sleeve to raise the sleeve from the lug as the frame is swung upwardly, a horizontally swins'able arm pivoted intermediate its ends on said gate beneath the frame, said arm including an elongated notch and cam surfaced end portions, said frame including a pair of inclined bars, said arni being received between the lower ends of said bars and first and second elongated horizontally disposed spring members securing the ends of said arin to said first upright, one of said bars riding against one cam surfaced end portion of said arm and into said notch upon upward swinging movement of said frame to tension one of the spring members and thereby urge the gate to its closed position, said second upright being disposed in the path of said plate for engaging the plate to rotate the plate and the sleeve in order to register the slot with the lug as the gate is closed, and a vertical spring connecting the sleeve to the gate and urging the sleeve toward the lug.

6. A self opening and closing device comprising first and second uprights, a vertically pivoted gate mounted on said first upright for swinging movement about a, vertical axis, a vertically slidable and rotatable sleeve carried by the gate, a curved plate secured to the sleeve and embracing the second upright, a lug secured to the gate below the sleeve, said sleeve having a vertical slot receiving said lug when said plate is disposed about the second post to lock the gate to the second post, a horizontally pivoted frame mounted on the gate and swingable about a horizontal axis transversely of the gate, means connecting the frame to the sleeve to raise the sleeve from the lug as the frame is swung upwardly, a horizontally swingable arm pivoted intermediate its ends on said gate beneath the frame, said arm including an elongated notch and cam surfaced end portions, said frame including a pair of inclined bars, said arm being received between the lower ends of said bars and first and second elongated horizontally disposed spring members securing the ends of said arm to said first upright, one of said bars riding against one cam, surfaced end portion of said arm and into said notch upon upward swinging movement of said frame to tension one of the spring members and thereby urge the gate to its open position, said spring members being in balance after the gate has been swung a predetermined amount whereby said arm will release said frame, the other of said spring members being tensioned upon continued swinging movement of said gate to return the gate to its closed position, and said second upright being disposed in the path of said plate for rotating the sleeve and the plate during closing of the gate to register the slot with the lug, said means connecting said sleeve to said frame including a pair of pulleys mounted on said gate and a flexible element trained over said pulleys and terminally attached to said frame and said sleeve.

7. The combination of claim 4 and a horizontal pivot for said frame, and means adjusting said frame horizontally on said pivot toward and away from said first upright.

8. A self-opening and closing device comprising first and second vertical posts, a closure member mounted on the first post for swinging movement about a, vertical axis toward and away from the second post, a horizontally pivoted bumper engaging member mounted On the closure for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, an arm pivoted intermediate its ends to said closure and engaged by said bumper engaging member, a pair of coil springs secured at one of their ends to the first post and connected at their other ends to the ends of the arm, and said bumper engaging member being forced against said armto swing the arm and expand one of said springs to urge the closure to its open position.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said arm includes a cam surface against which said bumper engaging member rides in order to swing the arm in order to expand said one of said springs.

10. The combination of claim 8 and latch means between said closure member and said second post, and means connecting said latch means to the bumper engaging member for releasing the latch means during swinging movement of said bumper engaging member in response to a vehicle bumper engaging the same.

VALDEMAR A. LEIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Beatty July 16, 1912 Witsil Sept. 16, 1913 Pratt Dec. 26, 1922 Laird Dec. 7, 1926 McDevitt Mar. 24, 1931 Kennel Mar. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Australia Aug. 11, 1933 

